Dianthus plant named ‘Starlette’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Dianthus  plant named ‘STARLETTE’ that is characterized by compact habit, grey-green foliage, and double flowers that are colored deep raspberry pink with a darker center. In combination these traits set ‘STARLETTE’ apart from all other existing varieties of  Dianthus  known to the inventor.

Genus: DIANTHUS.

Species: ×hybrida.

Denomination: ‘STARLETTE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/010,859 filed on Jan. 14, 2008, entitled Dianthus Plant named ‘STARLETTE’.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dianthus that is grown for use as a flowering plant for pots and containers and as a hardy perennial for the garden and landscape. The new cultivar is known botanically as Dianthus×hybrida and will be referred to hereinafter by the cultivar name ‘STARLETTE’.

‘STARLETTE’ is a complex hybrid plant that is the product of a long term breeding program conducted in a greenhouse environment in Houndspool, Dawlish, Devon, United Kingdom. The primary focus of the breeding program is to produce new cultivars of Dianthus that exhibit unique growth habit and flower colors. The inventor selected ‘STARLETTE’ in 2004 for its double flowers that are deep raspberry pink with a darker center.

‘STARLETTE’ resulted from the controlled pollination between an unreleased and unpatented Dianthus previously raised by the inventor and known by its code name Dianthus ‘01.19’ as female parent plant, and an unreleased and unpatented Dianthus previously raised by the inventor and known by its code name Dianthus ‘99.41’ as male parent plant.

‘STARLETTE’ is distinguishable from both parents which are taller and more vigorous and whose flowers are a paler color of pink. The variety of Dianthus which is considered by the inventor to most closely resemble ‘STARLETTE’ is Dianthus ‘Devon Winnie’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,893). ‘Devon Winnie’ has dark pink flowers, but ‘STARLETTE’ has deep raspberry pink colored flowers with very evident dark centers.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished by the inventor in 2004 in a cultivated area of Houndspool, Devon, United Kingdom. The method of asexual propagation used was vegetative cuttings. Since that time the characteristics of the new cultivar have been determined stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new Dianthus cultivar ‘STARLETTE’. These traits in combination distinguish this cultivar from all other commercial varieties known to the inventor. ‘STARLETTE’ has not been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions, however, without any variance in genotype.

-   -   1. Dianthus ‘STARLETTE’ exhibits a compact habit.     -   2. Dianthus ‘STARLETTE’ blooms profusely from May through         October.     -   3. Dianthus ‘STARLETTE’ exhibits double flowers that are deep         raspberry pink with a darker center.     -   4. Dianthus ‘STARLETTE’ exhibits grey-green foliage.     -   5. At maturity, the height of the foliage mound of Dianthus         ‘STARLETTE’ is 15 cm-18 cm.     -   6. Dianthus ‘STARLETTE’ is perennial and is hardy to −15° C.     -   7. Dianthus ‘STARLETTE’ is suitable for use as a flowering plant         in pots or border.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color drawings illustrate the overall appearance of the new Dianthus variety ‘STARLETTE’ showing colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the drawings may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actual colors of the new variety ‘STARLETTE’.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 1 depicts an entire flowering plant.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 2 depicts a close-up view of the flower.

All drawings were made of plants grown in 1.5-liter containers in a cold (unheated) glasshouse in Devon, United Kingdom. No chemicals were used to treat the plants. All drawings were made using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance they are as accurate as possible by conventional photography.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new cultivar ‘STARLETTE’. Data was collected in spring from plants which were 8 months old and which had been grown in 1.5 liter containers in an unheated glasshouse in Devon, United Kingdom. The color determinations are in accordance with the 2007 edition of The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The colors of stems, leaves, calyx, and epicalyx have been noted on plants which retain the characteristic waxy bloom of Dianthus. No chemicals were used to treat the plants. Growing conditions are typical of other Dianthus.

-   Botanical classification: Dianthus ‘STARLETTE’. -   Species: ×hybrida. -   Common name: Garden pink. -   Commercial classification: Dianthus hybrid. -   Type: Perennial. -   Use: Used as a flowering plant for pots and containers and for     planting in the garden or landscape. -   Parentage: ‘STARBURST’ is a complex hybrid plant that resulted from     the controlled pollination between the following parent plants:     -   -   Female parent plant.—Dianthus ‘01.19’.         -   Male parent plant.—Dianthus ‘99.41’. -   Plant description:     -   -   Bloom period.—May through October.         -   Plant habit.—Compact mound with many branches and stems;             upright growth.         -   Plant height.—15 cm to 18 cm.         -   Plant width.—12 cm to 17 cm.         -   Plant hardiness.—Hardy to minus 15° Centigrade.         -   Root system.—Fine fibrous roots.         -   Propagation.—Propagation is accomplished using vegetative             cuttings.         -   Cultural requirements.—Grow in full sun, with moderate             water, and well-drained moderately fertile soil. Remove dead             flower heads to maintain flowering.         -   Diseases and Pests.—Susceptible to known Dianthus pests and             disease but no other susceptibilities to pests or disease             are known to the inventor.         -   Time and temperature needed to produce a rooted cutting.—3             weeks are needed to produce roots on cuttings using a mist             propagation unit with bottom heat of 21° Centigrade, and a             minimum air temperature of 15° Centigrade.         -   Crop time.—3 months starting in the early spring through             summer and 6 months starting in the fall is needed to             produce a finished container size plant from a well-rooted             cutting. -   Stem:     -   -   Shape.—Cylindrical.         -   Stem dimensions.—8 cm to 12 cm in height and 2 mm in             diameter.         -   Stem surface.—Glabrous and glaucous.         -   Stem color.—143B.         -   Branching.—Numerous shoots from the axils of the lower             leaves.         -   Internode length.—5 mm to 8 mm between nodes.         -   Node color.—143B.         -   Node dimensions.—2 mm in length and 2 mm in diameter. -   Foliage:     -   -   Type.—Evergreen.         -   Shape.—Linear and straight.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Decurrent.         -   Venation.—Not Prominent.         -   Margins.—Entire.         -   Attachment.—Sheathing.         -   Arrangement.—Spiraling on stem.         -   Surfaces (adaxial and abaxial).—Glaucous.         -   Leaf dimensions.—30 mm to 40 mm in length and 2 mm to 3 mm             in width.         -   Leaf color (adaxial and abaxial surfaces).—Between 189A and             191A.         -   Fragrance.—Absent. -   Buds:     -   -   Shape.—Conical.         -   Dimensions.—5 mm-7 mm in diameter; 12 mm in length.         -   Color.—N138D.         -   Surface.—Smooth, waxy. -   Flowers:     -   -   Inflorescence.—Cymose.         -   Number of flowers per stem.—From 2 to 6.         -   Pedicel dimensions.—12 mm-15 mm in length and 2 mm in width.         -   Pedicel strength.—Stiff, wiry.         -   Pedicel angle.—20°-40° away from the vertical.         -   Pedicel color.—N189C.         -   Peduncle dimensions.—18 cm to 22 cm in length and 3 mm in             width.         -   Peduncle strength.—Erect.         -   Peduncle color.—N189C.         -   Flower development.—In sequence from the uppermost bud.         -   Flower type.—Salviform and symmetrical.         -   Flower shape.—Circular.         -   Flower profile.—Reflexed.         -   Flower dimensions.—(including calyx): 35 mm in length and 35             mm in width.         -   Fragrance.—Medium.         -   Petals.—Number: 15 -20 petals. Profile, upper part of             corolla: Convex. Profile, lower part of corolla: Concave.             Arrangement: Persistent, double, apopetalous, overlapping.             Margin: Serrate, depth of indentation, 1.75 mm-3.0 mm.             Texture: Soft. Shape: Obdeltoid. Apex: Rounded. Base:             Attenuate. Surface: Slightly hairy in the band area.             Dimensions: 30 mm to 35 mm in length and 10 mm to 15 mm in             width. Color (adaxial surface): Ground color of blade: N74A.             Band across blade (confers the dark center to the flower):             59A. Middle of strap: 145D. Base of strap: 145C. Color             (abaxial surface): Ground color of blade: 70B. Band across             blade: No band. Middle of strap: 145D. Base of strap: 145C.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Cylindrical. Longitudinal profile: Flat.             Dimensions: 20 mm in length and 8 mm in diameter. Sepals:             Fused. Number of sepals: 5. Sepal apex: Acuminate. Sepal             margin: Smooth. Sepal color (both surfaces): N138A. Sepal             texture (both surfaces): Smooth. Anthocyanin: Present.             Splitting: Not observed.         -   Epicalyx.—Bracts: 1 pair of 2. Shape of outer lobe:             Acuminate. Dimensions: 8 mm to 10 mm in length and 18 mm to             20 mm in width. Color: N138A. Anthocyanin: Present on the             border.         -   Bracteoles.—Number: 2 Dimensions: 5 mm to 6 mm in length and             4 mm to 5 mm in width. Color: N138A. Anthocyanin: Not             present. Lastingness of flower: Each individual flower lasts             an average of 10 days at 20° C. on the plant -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Number: 0-10. Filament color: NN155D. Dimensions:             15 mm-20 mm in length and 0.5 mm in diameter. NB: The             stamens are petaloid with the same blade pattern as the             petals.         -   Anthers.—Not observed.         -   Pollen.—Absent.         -   Style.—Number: 2. Shoulder: Absent. Color: NN155D.             Dimensions: 20 mm to 25 mm in length and 0.5 mm in width.         -   Stigma.—Number: Single. Color: 70B. Dimensions: 3 mm to 5 mm             above petals at maturity.         -   Pistils.—Number: 2, thin, thread-like, length 15 mm, color             155A.         -   Ovary.—Position: Superior. Dimensions: 8 mm in length and 4             mm in diameter. Shape: Spindle. Color (adaxial): 145B. Color             (abaxial): 145C. -   Seed: Plant is sterile. Seeds abort before becoming mature. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Dianthus plant named ‘STARLETTE’ as described and illustrated herein. 